opinion From Kathe Johnson Schaffler, daughter of Grant “Fats” Johnson
Just wanted you to know how much dad, at 98 years old, is enjoying reading the Lake County News-Chronicle. As a past writer for the newspaper under the title of “The Good Ole Days,” he never tires of his hometown newspaper.
Grant...
Two Harbors, 55616

Two Harbors Minnesota 109 Waterfront Dr. 55616

2014-05-30 12:36:03

From Kathe Johnson Schaffler, daughter of Grant “Fats” Johnson

Just wanted you to know how much dad, at 98 years old, is enjoying reading the Lake County News-Chronicle. As a past writer for the newspaper under the title of “The Good Ole Days,” he never tires of his hometown newspaper.

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Grant Johnson was nicknamed “Fats” because he was 12 pounds at birth - Feb 29, 1916. Growing up, everyone had a nickname and it was so prevalent that you forgot what their given name was.

He was quite the athlete during his years at Two Harbors, earning numerous athletic letters in both basketball and baseball. He was president of the class of 1934 from his freshman - senior years in high school.

At the University of Minnesota, as a Gopher basketball player, he was chosen for their Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame where he was also president of the organization in the 1960s. In 1997, he was inducted into the Two Harbors/ Lake County Hall of Fame.

His life dream was to be in education and he became a superintendent of schools throughout the state of Minnesota, being responsible for building high schools and vocational technical schools in both Buffalo and Detroit Lakes.

He now lives in Orlando, Fla., in an assisted living home and still enjoys your newspaper. Thank you so much for sending it to him.

It is the little things that make the world go round for the elderly, and the hometown newspaper is a definite plus for him.